Solutions Engineering Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Solutions Engineering Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with technical degrees in computer science, engineering, or information systems. Most roles require managing pre-sales teams and bridging product and client needs. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you meaningful runway to build experience and secure H-1B sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Darktrace is a global leader in AI for cybersecurity that keeps organizations ahead of the changing threat landscape every day. Founded in 2013, Darktrace provides the essential cybersecurity platform protecting nearly 10,000 organizations from unknown threats using its proprietary AI. The Darktrace Active AI Security Platform™ delivers a proactive approach to cyber resilience to secure the business across the entire digital estate – from network to cloud to email. Breakthrough innovations from our R&D teams have resulted in over 200 patent applications filed. Darktrace’s platform and services are supported by over 2,400 employees around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking an Solutions Engineer Manager to lead our Enterprise and Mid‑Market pre-sales technical team across the TOLA region. This role is ideal for a dynamic technical leader with deep cybersecurity expertise, proven success developing high‑performing pre‑sales teams, and extensive experience working within the channel ecosystem.
You will collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Channel, and Customer Success leadership to shape territory strategy, drive technical excellence, and support revenue growth across both enterprise and mid‑market accounts. Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities are essential, as you will play a critical role in elevating the skills, confidence, and performance of your team.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Leading, coaching, and empowering a pre-sales engineering team supporting Enterprise & Mid‑Market customers across the TOLA territory, with a focus on continuous development, clear expectations, and high accountability.
- Building and executing territory strategies in partnership with regional Sales and Channel leadership, ensuring alignment across go-to-market motions.
- Leveraging extensive channel experience to strengthen relationships within the partner ecosystem—empowering partners, supporting joint business, and amplifying technical value in the field.
- Driving a high‑performance culture by monitoring KPIs, refining technical excellence, and implementing strategies to exceed POV, partner-influenced, and direct sales targets.
- Providing strategic technical guidance throughout the customer lifecycle, collaborating closely with Sales and Customer Success teams to support acquisition, expansion, and retention motions.
- Leading talent development: recruiting top technical talent, providing structured coaching and mentorship, and managing performance to ensure team and individual success.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Experience managing a regional pre-sales engineering team within a software or SaaS organization, supporting both Enterprise and Mid‑Market accounts.
- Strong background working closely with the channel, including established relationships across the TOLA partner ecosystem and a deep understanding of channel-led go-to-market models.
- Prior hands-on experience as a Sales Engineer or Technical Account Manager; cybersecurity experience strongly preferred.
- Strong technical foundation across on-premise and cloud networking architectures.
- In-depth, hands-on understanding of cybersecurity tools, technologies, architectures, email and network infrastructure, and the evolving threat landscape.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence, educate, and build trust at all levels—internally, with customers, and with partners.
- Demonstrated success mentoring, coaching, and developing high-performing technical teams.
- Familiarity with modern sales methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC) highly preferred.
BENEFITS:
- 100% medical, dental and vision insurance, plus dependents
- Paid parental leave
- Pet insurance Discount
- Life insurance
- Commuter benefits
- 401(k)
- Employee Assistance Program
INTRODUCTION
Darktrace is a global leader in AI for cybersecurity that keeps organizations ahead of the changing threat landscape every day. Founded in 2013, Darktrace provides the essential cybersecurity platform protecting nearly 10,000 organizations from unknown threats using its proprietary AI. The Darktrace Active AI Security Platform™ delivers a proactive approach to cyber resilience to secure the business across the entire digital estate – from network to cloud to email. Breakthrough innovations from our R&D teams have resulted in over 200 patent applications filed. Darktrace’s platform and services are supported by over 2,400 employees around the world.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking an Solutions Engineer Manager to lead our Enterprise and Mid‑Market pre-sales technical team across the TOLA region. This role is ideal for a dynamic technical leader with deep cybersecurity expertise, proven success developing high‑performing pre‑sales teams, and extensive experience working within the channel ecosystem.
You will collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Channel, and Customer Success leadership to shape territory strategy, drive technical excellence, and support revenue growth across both enterprise and mid‑market accounts. Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities are essential, as you will play a critical role in elevating the skills, confidence, and performance of your team.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Leading, coaching, and empowering a pre-sales engineering team supporting Enterprise & Mid‑Market customers across the TOLA territory, with a focus on continuous development, clear expectations, and high accountability.
- Building and executing territory strategies in partnership with regional Sales and Channel leadership, ensuring alignment across go-to-market motions.
- Leveraging extensive channel experience to strengthen relationships within the partner ecosystem—empowering partners, supporting joint business, and amplifying technical value in the field.
- Driving a high‑performance culture by monitoring KPIs, refining technical excellence, and implementing strategies to exceed POV, partner-influenced, and direct sales targets.
- Providing strategic technical guidance throughout the customer lifecycle, collaborating closely with Sales and Customer Success teams to support acquisition, expansion, and retention motions.
- Leading talent development: recruiting top technical talent, providing structured coaching and mentorship, and managing performance to ensure team and individual success.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Experience managing a regional pre-sales engineering team within a software or SaaS organization, supporting both Enterprise and Mid‑Market accounts.
- Strong background working closely with the channel, including established relationships across the TOLA partner ecosystem and a deep understanding of channel-led go-to-market models.
- Prior hands-on experience as a Sales Engineer or Technical Account Manager; cybersecurity experience strongly preferred.
- Strong technical foundation across on-premise and cloud networking architectures.
- In-depth, hands-on understanding of cybersecurity tools, technologies, architectures, email and network infrastructure, and the evolving threat landscape.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence, educate, and build trust at all levels—internally, with customers, and with partners.
- Demonstrated success mentoring, coaching, and developing high-performing technical teams.
- Familiarity with modern sales methodologies (e.g., MEDDPICC) highly preferred.
BENEFITS:
- 100% medical, dental and vision insurance, plus dependents
- Paid parental leave
- Pet insurance Discount
- Life insurance
- Commuter benefits
- 401(k)
- Employee Assistance Program
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Solutions Engineering Manager
Target enterprise software companies first
Companies like Salesforce, Databricks, and Snowflake regularly hire Solutions Engineering Managers and have established H-1B sponsorship programs. Enterprise SaaS employers are far more likely to have immigration counsel on retainer than early-stage startups.
Confirm your degree qualifies as STEM
Solutions Engineering Manager roles typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in computer science, electrical engineering, or information systems. Verify your degree CIP code with your DSO before assuming you're eligible.
Lead with your technical depth in applications
Employers hiring for this role want proof you can run product demos and handle technical objections. Highlight hands-on pre-sales experience, specific tools you've implemented, and any quota-carrying results to stand out from generalist management candidates.
Ask about sponsorship before the final interview
Raise your OPT status after a recruiter screen confirms mutual interest, not in the first message. Framing it as a timeline question rather than a visa question keeps the conversation practical and reduces early-stage hesitation from hiring teams.
Prioritize employers with cap-exempt H-1B access
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and affiliated entities can file H-1B petitions year-round without the lottery. Solutions Engineering Manager roles at edtech companies or university-affiliated organizations may offer a faster path to long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Solutions Engineering Manager role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your underlying degree, not the job title. If you graduated with a STEM-designated degree such as computer science, electrical engineering, or information systems, and the role uses those technical skills, you can apply for the 24-month STEM extension. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm your CIP code eligibility with your DSO before applying.
Will employers sponsor an OPT student for a Solutions Engineering Manager position?
Yes, but selectivity varies. This is a senior role, so employers expect demonstrated pre-sales leadership experience. Companies with established solutions engineering teams at scale, particularly in enterprise SaaS, are most likely to sponsor because they understand the visa process and have immigration counsel in place. Browse OPT-friendly openings on Migrate Mate to identify which employers are actively hiring international candidates.
What does an employer need to do to sponsor a Solutions Engineering Manager on an H-1B?
The employer files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor, then submits an I-129 petition to USCIS. For cap-subject H-1B petitions, the employee must be selected in the annual lottery, which runs each spring for an October 1 start date. Most employers work with outside immigration counsel. Your role in the process is providing education credentials, employment history, and supporting documents.
Can I work as a Solutions Engineering Manager while my H-1B petition is pending?
Yes, if your employer files the H-1B petition before your OPT expires and you have a timely filed receipt, you may be covered by cap-gap protection, which extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. If USCIS approves the petition with an October 1 start date, you transition to H-1B status without any gap in employment authorization.
What technical background do employers expect for a Solutions Engineering Manager on OPT?
Most job descriptions require five or more years of solutions engineering or pre-sales experience, including time in a team lead or management capacity. Familiarity with APIs, cloud platforms, and enterprise integration patterns is common. A bachelor's or master's degree in a technical field is typically required to satisfy both the employer's qualification bar and the specialty occupation standard needed for H-1B sponsorship.
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